New plantings recently installed by the Mt. Prospect Partnership, are watered and maintained each week.New plantings recently installed by the Mt. Prospect Partnership, are watered and maintained each ...

By VINCE BAGLIVO

July 10, 2018 at 9:09 PM

NEWARK, NJ- An under-utilized pocket park on Mt. Prospect Avenue in Newark’s North Ward has become a symbol of what can be accomplished in neighborhoods throughout the city through effective public-private partnerships.

The park’s supporters have big plans for the public space, located directly across the street from the busy North Ward Center, located in an historic brick mansion built in 1880 by successful thread merchant William Clark.

Named Common Thread Park in recognition of the Clark family’s impact on the area, it is the first in the city to complete renovations and improvements using Green Acres funds. The funding was made possible by city voters, who approved a ballot question in 2013 to establish an Open Space Trust Fund.

The trust generates more than $ 1.7 million annually to acquire, develop and maintain parks, neighborhood playgrounds and ballfields in Newark.

North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr. sponsored that resolution, which was passed unanimously by council members in 2014.

“We have some of the state’s greatest parks here in Newark, including Weequahic and Branch Brook Park, but we can’t forget about some of the city’s smaller parks, which are located in the heart of many neighborhoods,” Ramos said. “What we did at Common Thread Park can be a model for how we can tap Green Acres funding to beautify more of our smaller parks throughout the city.”

Ramos said he realized that getting the park open was only part of the challenge. Ongoing maintenance, including landscaping and cleaning services, would be needed year-round. Programming activities in the park to keep things positive and deter negative activity, also would require focus and resources.

Volunteer board members of the Mt. Prospect Partnership (MPP), the District Management Corporation for the Mt. Prospect Avenue Special Improvement District, were discussing the possibility of adopting the park.

The organization, representing residents, business and property owners on Mt. Prospect Avenue, was already providing supplemental streetscape services in other parts of the district and was looking for opportunities to expand services in the area near 2nd Avenue.

The park proved to be a perfect match, said Partnership Administrator Chris Bernardo.

The Partnership has since worked with Ramos to establish a 3-year work plan covering 2018 through 2020, which, among several other capital projects, includes ongoing maintenance of the park as a priority.

“Part of my goal was to get neighborhood-based groups to take an active role in maintaining our parks,” Ramos said. “I am glad to see MPP step up.”

Bernardo said strategies for activating the park are being considered. Similar to Military Park downtown, where Bernardo also plays a role in park operations, activities such as yoga, chess and fitness classes are being considered.

"We envision a functional public space that serves as an asset to our residential stakeholders on Mt. Prospect Avenue," said Bernardo.

In addition to daily maintenance and programming, the Partnership may look to establish more holiday programming in and around the park, including holiday decorations and festive lighting effects inside the park.

MPP board member Rita Alvarez said her family’s business, Alvarez Funeral Home, is located nearby, and having the park maintained as a positive space for activities and events was beneficial to the business community as well as local residents.

With two managed districts in the North Ward, on Mt. Prospect Avenue and Bloomfield Avenue, Ramos said he is a big supporter.

“There is so much we can accomplish together through these public-private partnerships that benefits the people of the North Ward and other parts of the city,” Ramos said.

PATERSON, NJ - An investigation is underway into the shooting death of a Paterson man overnight.

According to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Troy Oswald, members of the Paterson Police Department responded to the area of the intersection of East 28th Street and 10th Avenue at approximately 11:38 p.m. in response to a call of shots fired.

Upon their ...

PATERSON, NJ - An investigation is underway into the shooting death of a Paterson man ...

PATERSON, NJ – Paterson’s annual Thanksgiving game will continue this season, though the game will be played the day before families sit down for their annual holiday feast.

According to a statement by Paterson Public Schools the Eastside High School Ghosts will take on the John F. Kennedy High School Knights Wednesday, November 21 at Bauerle Field. Kick-off will be at 6:00 p.m. with the ...

PATERSON, NJ – Paterson’s annual Thanksgiving game will continue this season, though the game will ...

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"The weather forecast was incorrect. I'm not a forecaster and I don't like to throw darts, but it was a blown forecast," Robinson ...

PATERSON, NJ- Paterson public schools will close early on Thursday due to the anticipated inclement weather. Forecasts are calling for between 1-3 inches of snow and strong winds causing potentially dangerous driving conditions.

According to a telephone message, Paterson Public Schools officials, based on their tracking through the night, “expect the storm to hit Paterson during the school ...

PATERSON, NJ- Paterson public schools will close early on Thursday due to the anticipated inclement ...

PATERSON, NJ – 20 colleges and universities including Rutgers University, NJIT, Montclair State University and William Paterson University will be in Paterson on Saturday as part of a college fair hosted by the Paterson Youth Council (PYC), which is facilitated by New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC).

The college fair, offering Paterson high school students the opportunity to ...

PATERSON, NJ – On Tuesday U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $3,336,144 to the Paterson Community Health Center to provide primary health care to low-income residents.

"The Paterson Community Health Center provides vital healthcare services to those in our community who need it most. With this federal grant, the ...

PATERSON, NJ – On Tuesday U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) announced that the U.S.

PATERSON, NJ - With temperatures expected to dip below freezing Wednesday into Thursday pet owners are reminded that extreme can be dangerous to pets.

According to New Jersey state law dogs cannot be outside if temperatures are below 34 degrees without proper shelter (insulated, elevated, heated). Keep your pets safe and avoid getting a fine by bringing your pets indoors any time the ...